281 



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in any l^ranch wliatever. At least it appears difficult to find any other improvement in lliis ait, 

 that so speedily, permanently, and at so moderate an expence, raises the value of land to the 

 degree now^ mentioned. It is hardly possible, T should conceive, to witness one of these wastes 

 converted into a rich fertile meadow in the short compass of two seasons, without feeling a con- 

 viction something like this. ,: 



In forming a water-meadow, the chief point to be obtained is a perfect command of the water, 

 that it maybe admitted on the land, and completely carried off at pleasure; for without this, it 

 will be found a vain and useless labour, as none of the valuable species of grass will thrive, or 

 even exist ill this kind of soil, under any other condition. 



Lands lying on declivities, are seldom converted into water-meadows, from the want of a 



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regular and sufficient supply of water in such situations. Bogs and low marshy grounds are 



r 



generally, in their natural state, the least profitable of soils, but are capable, by means of irriga- 



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tion, of having their value increased to a higher degree than any other waste lands. 



Water-meadows situated on declivities, are termed catch-work meadows; and those foinned 



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out of bogs and low level land, are styled jiomng meadows. The last requires the most art and 

 labour in its formation, on account of the difficulty that sometimes occurs in getting a com- 

 mand of the water. This is generally effected by throwing up the land in high ridges, with 

 deep drains between them. A main carriage is then taken out of the river, at a level sufficiently 

 high to command the tops of the ridges. Along the top of each ridge, an open drain or trench 

 is made to communicate with the main water-carriage. These little water-carriages being fur- 

 nished with moveable stops of earth, disperse the water on each side of the ridge, and is received 

 below by the drains, which conduct it to other parts of the same meadow. The point of import- 

 ance next to that of having a perfect command of water, at least as far as the growth and pros- 

 perity of the superior grasses is concerned, is the size of the ridges. Where there is a plentiful 

 supply of water, as from a river, the ridges may be from forty to fifty feet broad, and seventy in 

 length ; but when the supply of water depends upon a small brook, or upon a reservoir formed 

 by land-drains, thirty feet in width and fifty in length, are supposed to be the best dimensions. 

 The height of the ridges seems to be a point of considerable importance. I have invariably 

 observed, that all the superior grasses inhabit the crowns of the i^idges, extending generally to 

 eight feet on each side of the water-carriage, and the inferior grasses occupying the lower extre- 

 mities of the ridges. When the ridges are nearly level, much less water is required to irrigate the 

 land; but unless the subsoil is porous, the produce will be foimd much inferior to what it 

 would have been, had the ridges been raised to a proper height. In all the observations I have 

 made while examining different water-meadows at various periods of the seasons, the most pro- 

 ductive in the superior grasses, were those where the ridges were formed tlnrty-thr^e feet in 

 width and two feet and a half in height, that is, from the level of the furrow to the crown of the 

 ridge. But when the situation is very low and moist, and the sod deep, as in the instance of a 

 peat-bog, or where the subsoil is tenacious, the heighth of the ridge should be from two to three 



L _ 



feet. 



From numerous statements published by gentlemen who have made these improvements, 

 the expences of forming land into water-meadows, appear to be from four to twenty pounds per 

 acre, varying thus according to the local circumstances under which the improveinent is made. 

 The yearly expences for repairs, appear likewise to be from three to nine shillings per acre. The 



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